Battery Microstructures Library

Use this library of three-dimensional lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery electrode microstructures for microstructure characterization and microstructure modeling.

The library features a variety of Li-ion cathode (nickel manganese cobalt [NMC]) and anode (graphite) electrode data samples, calendered and uncalendered with different loadings.

Three-dimensional volume of two electrode materials—a cube-shaped image and a cylindrical-shaped image-represented at the microstructure scale along with a two-dimensional slice view taken in the middle of each volume. The cube-shaped image is labeled 50 µm. Dashed lines connect it to a square image with red, black, and white splotches with a scale bar of 10.5 µm. A caption underneath both images says, "NMC positive electrode (Black is electrolyte, red NMC and white generated carbon-binder domain)." The cylindrical-shaped image is labeled 50 µm. Dashed lines connect it to a square image with black, grey, and white splotches with a scale bar of 3.3 µm. The caption underneath both images says, “Graphite negative electrode (Black is electrolyte, grey graphite and white generated carbon-binder domain).

Example segmented volumes of three-dimensional electrodes.

Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) and
Graphite Data Samples

Samples available in the library for download include both grey-level and segmented, three-dimensional volumes.

Download Samples

A variety of Li-ion cathode (NMC) and anode (graphite) electrode samples, calendered and uncalendered with different loadings were fabricated by The Cell Analysis, Modeling and Prototyping facility at Argonne National Laboratory. University College London then imaged the electrodes with X-ray tomography. Since X-ray tomography is unable to distinguish the carbon-binder inert phases from the pore, a physics-based approach developed by Purdue University has been used to numerically generate the carbon-binder domain. For more information about how the data was collected, segmented and analyzed, see Resolving the Discrepancy in Tortuosity Factor Estimation for Li-ion Battery Electrodes through Micro-Macro Modeling and Experiment.

Li-ion battery performance is strongly correlated with microstructure morphology. Physics-based battery models most often use porous electrode theory and macro-homogeneous assumptions to predict electrochemical response. In these models, microstructural heterogeneity of battery composite electrodes is abstracted in terms of effective (or macroscopic) properties, such as particle diameter, porosity, specific surface area, and tortuosity. Fine determination of these parameters is essential to accurately predict electrode performance and degradation.

Publications

Resolving the Discrepancy in Tortuosity Factor Estimation for Li-ion Battery Electrodes through Micro-Macro Modeling and Experiment
Authors: F. L. E. Usseglio-Viretta, A. Colclasure, A. N. Mistry, K. P. Y. Claver, F. Pouraghajan, D. P. Finegan, T. M. M. Heenan, D. Abraham, P. P. Mukherjee, D. Wheeler, P. Shearing, S. J. Cooper, and K. Smith
Journal: Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 165 (14) A3403-A3426 (2018)

Quantitative Microstructure Characterization of a NMC Electrode
Authors: F. L. E. Usseglio-Viretta and K. Smith
Journal: ECS Transactions, 77(11), 1095-1118 (2017)

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